Waiver Wire Watch: Week 5
By John Paulsen, Contributing Editor
Note: For more options, see our classic ReDrafter Cheat Sheet each Tuesday. It's perfect for evaluating free agents and thinking over trade offers as it offers you our rest of season rankings.
It's time to set the traps, as our very own Josh Moore likes to say. In the morning, we'll pull those traps up and see what we have.
This week, fantasy owners are dealing with potentially serious injuries to Ben Roethlisberger, who is dealing with a foot injury after being bounced around like a pinball against the Texans, along with Rashard Mendenhall and Andre Johnson, who both have hamstring injuries. (Pet Peeve: When someone says "he has a hamstring" when talking about a hamstring injury. Of course he has a hamstring. He has two hamstrings! Grrr.)
Last week, our top waiver wire pickups were Rex Grossman (1 TD, 2 INT), Matt Hasselbeck (3 TD), Dexter McCluster (38 yards), Kendall Hunter (100 yds), Bernard Scott (Cedric Benson's suspension delayed), Nate Washington (2-62), David Nelson (2-18), Denarius Moore (3-19-1), Eric Decker (5-56-2), Fred Davis (4-34), Greg Olsen (5-50-1) and Jermaine Gresham (4-70-1). Let's see if we can find a few more gems on the waiver wire.
Titans QB Matt Hasselbeck ($4)
Even without Kenny Britt, Hasselbeck posted nice numbers (220 yards, 3 TDs) against the Browns. He has the Steelers this week. Not a great matchup, but he's a solid QB and a good long-term backup.
Next up: Steelers, BYE, Texans
Vikings QB Donovan McNabb ($1)
We're not high on McNabb long term, but as a bye fill-in, he has value this week due to his matchup with the Arizona Cardinals, who have been brutal against the pass. This assumes the Christian Ponder Era is not starting this week.
Next up: Cardinals, Bears, Packers
Broncos QB Kyle Orton ($1)
Orton has seven TDs in his last three games. Sure, he has five picks and just one win on the season, but these things don't matter in fantasy football. The Chargers aren't a great matchup, but they did give up two TDs to Matt Cassel after being torched by Tom Brady and Co.
Next up: Chargers, BYE, Dolphins
Browns QB Colt McCoy ($1)
Looking for a long-term add? McCoy is on bye this week, but check out this upcoming schedule: OAK, SEA, SF, HOU and STL. The Texans are tougher this year, but McCoy will be startable in those other four matchups.
Next up: BYE, Raiders, Seahawks
Seahawks QB Tarvaris Jackson ($1)
This is for the desperate only. Jackson threw for 319 yards and 3 TDs and has certainly been given a boost with the return of Sidney Rice. In Week 5, he faces the Giants, who have only been mediocre against the pass.
Next up: Giants, BYE, Browns
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